Microsoft for Startups Accelerator in Israel selected 14 start-ups for the first round

Microsoft for Startups Accelerator in Israel in collaboration with Tech for Good social enterprise organization selected 14 Israeli start-ups for the first round. Microsoft announced the launch of the booster last March, with select startups receiving expert training alongside average support of $ half a million.
Microsoft announced that the startups will be assisted by mentors from around the world and among them: Hempus Jacobson, who has invested in more than 100 companies around the world, and since 2019 has only focused on climate crisis companies; Gal Hayes, managing partner of the Israel Bridges Israel Impact Fund; Micah Baldwin who set up six startups that raised more than $ 350 million, including 4 exits; Dr. Iris Yuster, PhD in AI Product Management; Vanessa Bertram, who founded the Zora Impact Investment Fund, and others.

Raz Bachar, Microsoft for Startups Manager in Israel, said: "The Microsoft program has chosen to provide support to entrepreneurs at a complex time when they need it most. Hundreds of startups applied, of which we selected the 14 that we believed to have the most interesting case of integration between artificial intelligence and impact.
 "If we helped Pecan help small businesses, or seismicAI extensively save lives by locating earthquakes - as far as I'm concerned.
"Although the title remained the same, the content itself was updated to the current reality. For example, everything related to hiring (which must be done remotely and not face-to-face), how to pitch to a video investor and not "in the elevator", how to build a customer pipeline in a world where there are no conferences and the possibility of meeting face-to-face is limited.
"Next time - we know we want to maintain the ability to bring in mentors and startups as we do now, but in addition to thinking about original ways to create a group atmosphere. We are still trying to crack that," Bachar said.
Financing companies will gain preferential access to a preferred investment option from the Microsoft Phytanthropic Fund that manages over $ 100 million.